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GEORGE L. GUTIERREZ

April 24, 2025 , , , , No Comments

EDUCATION

GEORGE L. GUTIERREZ graduated cum laude from California State University, Long Beach, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2014. During law school, Mr. Gutierrez earned a Certificate in Intellectual Property & Technology Law with Honors, served as a Survey Author for the USF Intellectual Property Law Bulletin, and was a Technical Editor for the USF Maritime Law Journal.  He also authored multiple legal publications.

BACKGROUND

Prior to joining Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, LLP, Mr. Gutierrez was a Partner at a prominent maritime law firm, where he defended multinational insurance carriers and employers in defense of claims brought under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and its extensions. His extensive litigation background includes conducting hundreds of depositions, evaluating and litigating high-exposure claims before the Office of Administrative Law Judges and Benefits Review Board, and consistently securing favorable outcomes through strategic negotiation and trial advocacy. 

Mr. Gutierrez also previously worked as a Senior Associate Attorney at a Los Angeles-based law firm, where he represented insurance carriers and third-party administrators in all phases of California workers’ compensation litigation.  

Mr. Gutierrez is known for his client-focused approach, prioritizing clear communication and tailored legal strategies to achieve optimal outcomes. He is committed to delivering results through meticulous preparation, aggressive defense strategies, and effective advocacy. He takes pride in guiding his clients through the litigation process with dedication and clarity, ensuring their goals are always his top priority. 

Mr. Gutierrez handles both California state workers’ compensation claims and federal claims in the firm’s San Diego office. 

DIANA ARELLANO

December 3, 2024 , , , No Comments

EDUCATION

Diana Arellano received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Monterey Bay. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law.

BACKGROUND

While attending law school, Ms. Arellano began working as a Legal Intern in our Newport Beach office. Ms. Arellano’s hard work and acumen resulted in her joining Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown as an Associate Attorney immediately after passing the California state bar. Ms. Arellano is an Associate Attorney in our Irvine Office where she aggressively moves cases towards closure in the most cost-efficient and expeditious manner.

KRIS EAMES

October 9, 2024 , , No Comments

Education and Background:

Kris Eames graduated from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, earning dual Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degrees with a focus in Commercial and Banking law. During his undergraduate studies, he completed the Victoria Plus and Wellington International Leadership Programs.

Mr. Eames then prepared for an overseas exchange program at University of Oklahoma College of Law. After completion, he returned to earn his Master of Laws (LLM) degree. During his studies, Mr. Eames worked in personal injury, mass tort, medical device, property damage, and inverse condemnation claims at a seasoned plaintiff’s firm based in Houston, Texas. Mr. Eames continued on to assist personal and business bankruptcy petitioners in the Texas Northern and Southern Bankruptcy Courts with a well-known bankruptcy firm, also in Houston.

Legal Practice:

Upon admission to the bar, Mr. Eames began his insurance defense career at a distinguished Houston-based defense firm, litigating cases arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) and Defense Base Act (DBA). Mr. Eames’ practice also handled matters brought pursuant to the War Hazards Compensation Act (WHCA).

Mr. Eames gladly brings his LHWCA, DBA, and WHCA experience to assist the clients of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown’s office in Long Beach, California.

SANDRA AMBROCIO

September 16, 2024 , , No Comments

EDUCATION

Sandra Ambrocio received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California Berkeley. Ms. Ambrocio received her Juris Doctor in 2009 from the John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, California.

BACKGROUND

Sandra has over twenty years of experience in the field of Workers’ Compensation. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked as a claims adjuster on a dedicated national account with a Fortune 100 insurance company alongside the account’s risk management team. She also worked for a TPA on another dedicated national account with impressive results for the client.

While in law school, Sandra worked as a law clerk and hearing representative for a nationwide insurance company with a focus on claims in California. After passing the Bar exam, Sandra transitioned to preferred outside counsel defense firms managing California claims. Thereafter, she worked for a national insurance company as in-house field legal counsel.

Ms. Ambrocio served as a Deputy Regional President for the Hispanic National Bar Association, Region XVII, and is a lifetime member of the organization. She has volunteered at events with the Diablo Valley Industrial Claims Association, and the San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association. Ms. Ambrocio has provided training presentations for clients from TPAs, insurance companies, and employers.  Sandra is fluent in Spanish and literate in French.

COURTNEY HOOPER

July 9, 2024 , , No Comments

Education:

Courtney Hooper graduated magna cum laude with honors from West Virginia University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies with a concentration on Europe and a second Bachelor of Arts degree in World Languages, Literature, and Linguistics with a concentration on Spanish. Among her various activities and memberships during her undergraduate studies, she served as the WVU Panhellenic President and was a member of the Chi Omega Fraternity.

Ms. Hooper then earned her Juris Doctor degree from the West Virginia University College of Law. While in law school, she worked as a federal judicial intern for the Honorable John Preston Bailey, United States District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia; as a legal extern for the WVU Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel; and as a student clinician in the WVU College of Law Immigration Law Clinic. She also worked as a lifeguard in her “free” time.

Background:

Following law school, Ms. Hooper returned to Judge Bailey to work as a federal judicial law clerk for a term of two years. She then began her defense career, working for the better part of a decade for a prominent New York defense firm primarily litigating cases arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act and Defense Base Act before various federal and administrative tribunals. She also worked extensively on matters involving and brought pursuant to the War Hazards Compensation Act.

Now residing in Philadelphia (a lifelong allegiance to Pittsburgh sports notwithstanding), Ms. Hooper brings her considerable Longshore and DBA experience to the Long Beach office of Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown and continues defense of clients in such matters.

Ms. Hooper is admitted to practice law in New York, Massachusetts, West Virginia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia.

TABINA HAIDER

March 20, 2024 , , No Comments

Education: UCSD with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, with a concentration in Political Science. She pursued her Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law where she received a certification in Intellectual Property law. She was admitted to the California Bar in 2023.

Background: Before law school, Tabina worked at a University in Santiago, Chile, where she taught English and immersed herself in a new cultural landscape. This experience honed her empathy and cultural awareness, qualities that now shape her legal approach.

During law school, this passion for exploring different perspectives led her to complete an internship at a law firm in Paris, France, where she gained invaluable insights into international law practices.

She has a publication in the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Journal. Titled: “Food for Thought: The Scope of Intellectual Property Protection in the Food Industry”, the article explores the legal framework surrounding innovations in food technology and the extent at which the law as it exists protects such.

Now a member of our defense team, Tabina is committed to leveraging her skills and expertise to provide effective representation to our clients. With her dedication to thorough preparation and zealous advocacy, Tabina is ready to make a meaningful impact in the field of worker’s compensation defense.

Whether our clients are facing disputed claims or navigating complex legal challenges, Tabina is here to provide strategic guidance and tenacious defense every step of the way.

KARL FRANCOIS

January 25, 2024 , , No Comments

EDUCATION

Karl Jeff Francois received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Economics from Florida International University. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and was admitted the following year.

BACKGROUND

Mr. Francois began his career as a legal assistant/paralegal where he specialized in probate, family, and foreclosure defense cases. During law school, Mr. Francois worked as a legal intern with the Miami Dade Public Defender’s Office and gained experience assisting the lead attorney during trial. He then worked as an intern at the University of Miami School of Law Immigration Clinic furthering his experience with administrative law at the federal level including significant legal research and law and motion drafting.

Since law school, Mr. Francois has worked exclusively in defending Federal workers’ compensation cases under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act and its extensions, including the Defense Base Act. He is continuing this practice at the firm’s Long Beach office handling every aspect of cases.

JOSHUA LARSON

June 19, 2023 , , Comments Off on JOSHUA LARSON

JOSHUA LARSON received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Riverside, with a major in Political Science. He attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California and earned his Juris Doctor in December of 2008. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in June of 2009. In December of 2012, he earned his Business and Economics Law LL.M. at Chapman University School of Law.

BACKGROUND

In Law School, Mr. Larson was active student leader. He was a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA) and served as their Vice President and President. He was a member of the Thomas Jefferson Student Bar Association and served as the Social Chair Officer and Vice President.  While in Law School, Mr. Larson interned with Office of the Alternate Public Defender, Intellectual Property Legal Advisors, and Simo Holdings, Inc., f/k/a No Fear, Inc.

Upon being admitted to the California State Bar, Simo Holdings promoted Mr. Larson to Corporate Counsel where he was responsible for all its U.S. legal matters relating to this prominent action sports brand. Subsequently, Mr. Larson expanded his legal experience practicing Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property, Business, and finally, Workers’ Compensation litigation.

Mr. Larson has been practicing Workers’ Compensation Defense since 2013. He is experienced in defending claims under the Federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) and California State Labor Code.

Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela and Brown is pleased to have Mr. Larson in our Long Beach Office.

EDGAR J. REYNOSO

March 8, 2023 , , , Comments Off on EDGAR J. REYNOSO

Edgar J. Reynoso is an Associate in our Newport Beach office.  He joined the firm in 2023. Mr. Reynoso has 16 years’ experience dealing with all aspects of workers’ compensation claims.

After graduating from law school in 1998, Mr. Reynoso represented workers’ compensation applicants.  He represented both personal injury plaintiffs as well as workers compensation applicants for six years.  During his tenure at this firm, Mr. Reynoso obtained a $41,900,000 judgement on a personal injury case.  While Mr. Reynoso was vigorously representing a workers’ compensation applicant in a deposition, the defense attorney liked his style and offered him a job, which he accepted.

For the next 10 years, Mr. Reynoso defended workers’ compensation claims. He regularly attended seminars hosted by insurance companies, which trained him on how to find, among other things, workers’ compensation fraud.  

Mr. Reynoso worked directly with representatives from many insurance companies, such as Royal & Sun Alliance, Zenith Insurance, ACE/USA, RSKCo, Specialty Risk Services, Crum & Forster, and One Beacon Insurance Group.  I also worked directly with self-insured companies such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Sam’s Club, National Sports Grill, Cheesecake Factory, and YMCA defending their WC claims.  Thus, he is very confident in dealing all aspects of workers’ compensation claims.

In addition to all California state courts, Mr. Reynoso is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California; and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Reynoso earned his law degree from Western State University, College of Law in 1998.

GEORGE JONES

November 18, 2021 , , Comments Off on GEORGE JONES

EDUCATION 

GEORGE JONES received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hawaii in 1980 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco in 1992, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the USF Maritime Law Journal.  George was admitted to the California Bar in 1992.  

BACKGROUND  

George Jones has been practicing maritime law for over 25 years in the Long Beach/Los Angeles area and has significant experience litigating a wide variety of maritime claims including Jones Act, USL&H/DBA, cargo, vessel liability and general insurance claims. 

Prior to joining Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown, George served as Vice-President of one of the nation’s premier maritime adjusting firms. Prior to that, George managed his own law firm, Jones Maritime Law, APC, which specialized in maritime personal injury litigation, including Jones Act, USL&H and DBA matters. George is licensed to practice law in all state and federal courts in California. He is a Proctor of Admiralty Member of the Maritime Law Association of the US. George is also A/V Preeminent rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest independent, peer review rating awarded for excellence in both competency and ethics. 

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